You heard it here first! Whataburger, the iconic Texas fast food chain, is officially breaking ground in California – and it’s taking over the In-N-Out near LAX.
Set to open on April 31, 2026, the location will be Whataburger’s first in California. Finally, Angelenos will be able to try the Whataburger that Texans have been raving about for years, alongside the restaurant’s delicious selection of breakfast taquitos and the iconic honey butter chicken biscuit.
“Good,” one excited L.A. transplant told Secret Los Angeles about the news. “California burgers are so overrated. Finally, y’all will be able to taste a real mustard-forward burger with fries and a diet Dr. Pibb.”
Whataburger originally opened in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950. Since, the chain has spread across Texas and much of the South, with over 1,000 locations in a total of 16 states. Previously, the locations closest to California were in Nevada and Arizona.
It’s unclear why In-N-Out sold the iconic LAX location to Whataburger. Maybe they were just tired of being the most popular burger in California and wanted to give another chain a chance.
Secret Los Angeles reached out to In-N-Out for a comment, and a representative responded, “April Fools!”
So sorry to disappoint, but Whataburger isn’t headed to California just yet. But we actually are keeping our fingers crossed…
DISCLAIMER: This article was published for April Fool’s Day (April 1).
